Clap for Carers (2)

Peter Whittle: I note that on 30 April 2020, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist warned members of the public that they will be told to go home if they turn up at Westminster Bridge that evening without a legitimate reason. Why was this warning not issued the week before (i.e. 23 April)?

The Mayor: As the weekly Clap for Cares tribute has gained prominence it is understandable that major landmarks, including Westminster Bridge in central London, have become focal points for those who wish to applaud. However, it is not acceptable for people to disregard the safety of themselves and others. Officers will be present to engage, explain and encourage the public to observe social distancing rules and if necessary, to move on.

Clap for Carers (1)

Peter Whittle: On the evening of 16 April 2020, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick was photographed leading a crowded ‘Clap for Carers’ event on Westminster Bridge. That large public gathering in the centre of London clearly ignored the social distancing rules laid down by government. Who organised this event and what kind of message does this kind of behaviour send out to Londoners?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information required in order to answer your question fully was not possible to be collated within the statutory deadline.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor how many Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued so far by the Metropolitan Police, after individuals were found in breach of coronavirus regulations?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

The Death of Harry Dunn

Peter Whittle: As you will be aware, 19 year-old Harry Dunn died in a motorbike crash outside the RAF Croughton Airforce base in Northamptonshire on 27 August 2019. The other person involved was Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official. She claimed diplomatic immunity from prosecution and returned to America, despite later being charged with causing death by dangerous driving.What involvement has Scotland Yard had in this matter and what advice did the Metropolitan Police provide to their colleagues in the Northamptonshire Police in respect of this case?

The Mayor: When an incident involving a person believed to have diplomatic immunity occurs, the MPS Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection team checks the Privileged Persons Index on behalf of the enquiring force to establish an individual’s diplomatic status.
In response to a request from Northamptonshire Police Force in August 2019, the relevant information was provided to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

No-Go Areas (1)

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor are there any no-go areas for the Metropolitan Police in London?

The Mayor: No. There are no “no-go” areas for the Met. The Met’s mission is to keep London safe for all Londoners.
The Commissioner has been clear that, while the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic are significant, the Met’s brave, dedicated and professional officers will be out on our streets, supporting communities and keeping people safe.

LED Street Lights

David Kurten: In your answer to MQ 2020/1047 you stated that each LED would save £105 in energy costs and £11 in maintenance costs per year, but you did not say how much they would cost to install. What is the cost of purchasing and installing one LED street light and how many do you intend to purchase and install on the TfL road network over the next five financial years?

The Mayor: Based on the costs of last years work, the cost of installing one LED street light is a maximum of £600. This can vary though, based on the number installed at any one time and the type of road. For example, installations on high speed roads will cost more as more traffic management is required for the works.
Given the coronavirus outbreak and its impacts, it is not currently possible to confirm future installation numbers at this time.

The Metropolitan Police Special Inquiry Team

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor if the Metropolitan Police Special Inquiry Team are currently investigating any individuals in respect of activities in the 2016 referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information required in order to answer your question fully was not possible to be collated within the statutory deadline.

The Met’s approach to enforcement of the Coronavirus Public Health Regulations

Unmesh Desai: Please advise of how many summonses to court, fixed penalty notices, and cautions have been issued by the Met in relation to breaches of the Coronavirus Public Health Regulations between the 25th March and the 1st May?

The Mayor: Londoners have made extraordinary sacrifices by complying with the lockdown, their actions have no doubt saved many lives. The statistics show the vast majority of Londoners have been adhering to the lockdown.
In London, between 28 March up unto 11 May 2020, 906 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued.
Not only does this show that Londoners have taken the guidance seriously, it also shows that the Met police have been taking an effective approach to interact with the public – with enforcement as a last resort.
The police response is based on the ‘four E’s’ of ‘Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce’.
The Met will first try to engage with someone, explain how they think the rules are being broken, and encourage them to change their behaviour to reduce the risk to public safety and health - before moving to enforcement action as a last resort.

Unflushables

Leonie Cooper: How are you raising awareness of calls by London’s water companies not to use unflushable toilet paper substitutes during the pandemic, as they contribute to blockages?

The Mayor: I have been in regular contact with Thames Water, which manages London’s wastewater, to monitor any issues with London’s drainage network. Thames Water have been keeping me informed of their recent social media and radio campaigns to tackle sewer abuse and reduce blockages. I have asked Thames to relay any concerns or increase in incidents back to my team. My officers also convene a weekly COVID19 related utilities’ coordination call, which Thames Water as well as London’s other utility providers join. This offers a weekly check-in on utilities issues, which includes the wastewater network, and the opportunity to escalate any problems that might affect services for Londoners.
Since lock down started, I have, through the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), focussed messaging on specific items on facemasks, gloves and PPE which have become commonly littered items that pose a potential public health risk and blight our open spaces.
Historically, LWARB have posted about wet wipes as part of their education activity for the ‘One Bin is Rubbish’ campaign and created a video which was shared on social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Waste services

Leonie Cooper: How are you supporting Boroughs on a strategic basis to continue providing consistent waste collection and processing services that meet your waste reduction and recycling targets?

The Mayor: Since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March my officers have been working closely with LWARB, London Councils and London boroughs on London’s waste response. This has been co-ordinated through LWARB, and has involved constant engagement with boroughs to understand their challenges, developing common messaging and tools to support the communication of local advice to residents, tracking of performance, influencing Government guidance, and connecting boroughs with commercial waste providers to provide a source of capacity to meet any additional service needs. This has enabled London’s essential waste and recycling services to be maintained, the gradual re-introduction of bulky and garden waste services as staff levels return to normal, and safe and orderly re-opening of London’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres seen this past week. This has put London ahead of the curve nationally, leading a highly collaborative effort that has influenced the Government’s national COVID-19 waste response.
It is too early to know the full extent of the COVID-19 impact on meeting my reduction and recycling targets. My priority now is to continue working with London boroughs to provide safe and effective services, and to take the learnings to ensure that the same level of positive collaboration is retained for London’s post-COVID-19 recovery.

Impact of COVID-19 on sectors

Leonie Cooper: There are a number of different economic sectors in London and some have been affected worse than others by the coronavirus. Can you please set out what support you have given to each sector to date during the pandemic and what sectors will require particular support going forward?

The Mayor: Businesses across many sectors are struggling, particularly with cashflow, and are brought together by common challenges like rent. The London Growth Hub provides online, tailored, 1-2-1 business support and guidance on topics like how to access the government’s business support packages, how business can adapt in the current circumstances and managing cashflow. I have also approved an additional £1m of funding for business support activities that will help SMEs during the coming year.
My “Pay it Forward” campaign in partnershipCrowdfunderis helping SMEs in particular sectors including hospitality, retail and leisure.
Last month I committed £2.3m in grant funding to support London’s music venues, independent cinemas, LGBTQ+ venues and creative workspaces, all of whom have been hit particularly hard during the crisis.
Looking forward, there is no doubt that certain sectors such as hospitality, leisure, tourism, and the creative industries, in which business models as built around achieving high levels of attendance at venues such as (but not limited to) pubs and bars, cafés, restaurants, music venues, nightclubs, theatres and other cultural spaces, will need extensive ongoing support, and I have made this case to the Government.

Enforcement of the Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations

Unmesh Desai: Please provide a percentage breakdown, by ethnicity and gender, of those in London who have been a) issued with a fixed penalty notice for breaching the Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations and b) have been cautioned for breaching the Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations

The Mayor: The Commissioner and I are committed to transparent reporting of the Met’s use of powers within the new coronavirus regulations.
The Met already makes comprehensive data on stop and search available for public scrutiny and the Commissioner has regular discussions with my Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime about the Met’s performance.
It is imperative that Londoners have confidence that the use of these new powers is appropriate and within the national guidelines set by the National Police Chiefs Counsel (NPCC). This is an issue for the whole of the country and therefore the Met will publish the data in line with the NPCC publication by the end of May 2020.
It is important that we better understand what might be driving the disproportionate effect that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups. I’ve been clear that this pandemic must be a wake-up call for our country and a catalyst for fundamental change.

Coronavirus incidents

Unmesh Desai: How many incidents have there been in London relating to breaches of Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations have the Met responded to since 25th March 2020?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

Rough Sleepers (3)

Andrew Boff: What plans are in place to assist London's rough sleepers when Covid-19 restrictions are eased and their current accommodation reverts to its previous use?

The Mayor: The GLA, London Councils, the NHS and Public Health England have formed a Rough Sleeping Strategic Group which has led on developing a strategy for the work to move people on when the lockdown ends. The strategy is underpinned by the In For Good principle, whereby no-one we are accommodating now needs to return to the streets when lockdown is lifted. Our commissioned charities are working intensively with those in the GLA-procured hotels, to assess their needs and identify potential solutions to their homelessness. At the same time, my team is working to secure the resources, such as accommodation that will be needed to implement these solutions.
Any long-term solution will require continued funding and support from the Government. But it’s not just about funding – we also need changes to government policy. Many rough sleepers in London have no recourse to public funds or are EEA nationals without the right to reside in the UK. I am calling on the Government to ensure that these rough sleepers are eligible for support, for example by suspending no recourse to public funds condition. With the right support, we have a unique opportunity to make real and lasting change to the lives of rough sleepers in London.

Rough sleepers (4)

Andrew Boff: How many rough sleepers, currently placed in Covid-19 accommodation, do you expect to progress to more permanent housing? What is being done to facilitate this?

The Mayor: As set out in Mayor's Question 2020/1492, our commissioned charities are working intensively with those in the hotels, to assess their needs and identify potential solutions to their homelessness, with the expectation that all will receive an offer of support so that they do not need to return to rough sleeping. Most will need more permanent housing, but for many non-UK nationals, there are limitations on eligibility for housing and support as a result of Government policy. This is why I have called on the Government to suspend the No Recourse to Public Funds condition and the Habitual Residence Test so that EEA citizens do not need to prove their ‘right to reside’ to access much-needed benefits and assistance under homelessness legislation.

Rough sleepers (1)

Andrew Boff: How many of London's rough sleepers have been placed in accommodation as a result of Covid-19 measures? Please provide a breakdown by type of accommodation.

The Mayor: As at 13 May 2020, 1,285 people were in GLA-procured accommodation, of which 1,226 were in hotels and 59 were in other safe accommodation. Many more were similarly accommodated by London’s councils

Rough Sleepers (2)

Andrew Boff: How many of London's rough sleepers have not been placed in accommodation as a result of Covid-19 measures?

The Mayor: Outreach teams are still going out, and since lockdown began, the number of people they have seen each week has varied between 400 and 600. Around 40 per cent are already known to services, but most are new to the streets. Although some will have refused offers of support, many want and need accommodation. This demonstrates that whilst the overwhelming majority of rough sleepers in London have been helped into safe accommodation, the job is not yet done. Continued support and funding from the Government will be required so that we can help those who remain on the streets, and ensure the In for Good principles can be applied to those we have already helped.

Prisoners getting the vote

Tony Devenish: Given your support for restorative justice and the rehabilitative emphasis of your Prisoner Pathfinder scheme, do you support a policy of giving convicted criminals the vote, as per the Welsh Government? How are the victims of crimes such as paedophilia, and racially aggravated common assault meant to feel at this disgusting policy?

The Mayor: I have no plans to seek any changes to legislation related to prisoner voting.

Hate Crime

Tony Devenish: What will you do to address the increasing number of hate crimes against British Chinese Community in London?

The Mayor: Hate crime of any kind has absolutely no place in our city. However, I know, as do the Met Police, that there are some who will use the COVID-19 pandemic to try and divide us. There was a spike in March in reported incidents against Chinese and South East Asian communities, but thankfully the number of hate crime reports has now fallen in line with most reported crimes (other than domestic abuse).
We must not be complacent though, and officers in the Met Police and across City Hall have been engaging with the Chinese and South East Asian communities to provide reassurance and reporting opportunities, understand their experiences and prevent further victimisation. In addition, I have provided additional funds to our commissioned providers to ensure support mechanisms are in place. Work is also underway to prepare for further lifting of the lockdown restrictions and any impact this might have on hate crime against all communities.

Kensington Planning Applications

Tony Devenish: Given your admission of acting with “improper purpose” in the judicial review of your planning decision on the Kensington Forum Hotel, and the subsequent overturning of that decision, how will you ensure these failings are not repeated in your handling of the Holiday Inn planning application that you have now called-in?

The Mayor: My officers have agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) a working arrangement for all applications I have called in. This involves notifying MHCLG at key stages of progress of a case up until the representation hearing. I consider that these arrangements provide clarity and a clear expectation between the parties which should avoid any similar issues in future.
When re-determining this particular application for the Kensington Forum Hotel, in the event that I am minded to grant planning permission, I willgive the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government immediate notice of that intention.

Care for SEND families

Jennette Arnold: Many of London’s children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) will not be attending school even if they would be eligible, due to health concerns and shielding from the virus. How are you supporting these families to ensure they can safely receive the support they need?

The Mayor: I share your concerns for children and young people with SEND, who are particularly vulnerable at this time. Although I do not have statutory responsibility for school-age education, I want to reassure you that my Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare is in regular contact with Directors of Children’s Services, through the Association of London Directors of Children’s Services, to discuss how boroughs are supporting their most vulnerable families.
Boroughs have amended their offers to enable them to continue to support children and young people with SEND and their families. For example, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster are offering remote support from their SEN Outreach Services to families. Their Short Breaks Service is continuing to deliver a safe offer from local centres enabling parents and carers who most need it to have a short break. Special schools in the boroughs have offered use of their external play spaces which are equipped with equipment such as trampolines suitable for wheelchair users. By giving families a timed, exclusive slot, they are able to play without worrying about social distancing.

Adult Education Budget

Jennette Arnold: Does the Adult Education Budget have sufficient flexibility to support London’s Further Education sector during lockdown and ensure they are able to provide all courses as planned in September?

The Mayor: London’s Further Education (FE) sector has been working hard to ensure adult learning can continue online where possible since the Covid-19 emergency measures were introduced.
Many of London’s FE providers have also faced real challenges maintaining their financial stability during this period.
As such, I have taken steps to secure the immediate financial security of Adult Education Budget (AEB) providers so they have the reassurance and flexibility they need to continue delivering learning. I have also launched a Covid-19 Response Fund, worth up to £9m, for AEB providers to expand their online provision, adapt courses and build capacity to ensure they are equipped to support more Londoners to learn remotely.
I am also exploring the introduction of additional AEB flexibilities to support additional education and training, particularly forthoseLondonersmost at risk oflong-termunemployment, as part of our work to support London’s recovery from the pandemic.

London Curriculum

Jennette Arnold: How are you making parents and schools aware of the London Curriculum so they can make use of it for home learning?

The Mayor: My London Curriculum programme has always supported teachers to explore beyond the classroom and visit the city’s brilliant scientific and cultural venues. With the COVID-19 pandemic making this no longer possible, it is important to ensure young Londoners still feel connected to the incredible people, places and culture of their city. This is why I have launched London Learning at Home (www.london.gov.uk/learning-at-home) to bring together the capital’s free learning and cultural offers that children can access safely from home. I want to help parents, carers and teachers to easily find what they need, so offers are organised by age range, subject, key stage and level of adult supervision required. Over 50 organisations already feature, and the website will continue to be updated.

International students

Jennette Arnold: Universities are very worried about the impact of coronavirus on international student numbers. What assessment have you conducted on the impact of falling international student numbers on London’s economy?

The Mayor: International students are an important part of our universities, society and economy. In 2018-19, over 125,000 international students were at London universities. A London & Partners report in 2018 estimated international students made a net contribution to London’s economy of £2.7 billion, including fees, living costs and family visits.
Last month, I wrote to all London’s publicly funded higher education providers recognising the concerns they have around international student recruitment. I made clear the support available through City Hall and London & Partners, including through the Study London platform.
I am pleased the Government has confirmed the reintroduction of the Graduate Immigration Route - a two year post-study work visa - which will launch in the summer of 2021. I have consistently made the case for this reintroduction as it is a vital component of international student recruitment.
I will continue to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on international student recruitment.

Tottenham Court Road Crossrail Station

Tony Devenish: The Dean Street development of Tottenham Court Road Station has a fence that divides the station from the now pedestrianised northern end of Dean Street. Recently, this fence has been pushed out from the site so as to impinge upon the ability of maintaining social distancing on the remaining paved area. Will you ensure that the fence is returned to its original position?

The Mayor: Crossrail and Transport for London (TfL) have informed me that the site boundary needed to be temporarily changed to accommodate vehicles and was moved back to its previous position on 5 May 2020 as planned.

High performance cars

Tony Devenish: Regarding the visibility of high performance cars, especially in the middle of the night at petrol stations and other late night premises occupied by alleged gang members. Some of my constituents feel this may show 'crime pays' to some people? What is being done to impound such vehicles?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

County Lines

Tony Devenish: How has the coronavirus lockdown disrupted county lines drug dealing? Has it allowed the Met to make progress in apprehending drug dealers and "rescuing" children caught up in this vile trade, at a time when anyone in public "stands out like a sore thumb". Do you have any quantifiable figures?

The Mayor: Both the Commissioner and I are determined to stamp out the criminal networks who coerce young and vulnerable people to supply drugs, fuelling violence and misery in London and around the country.
City Hall plays a central role in co-ordinating a regional response to county lines. I have invested £3 million in a three-year Rescue and Response programme to better understand, target and respond to county lines offending and victimisation.
Stemming this exploitation is vital. Through Rescue and Response, we are beginning to understand the scale of the issue, which is why I have invested a further £750,000 this year to ensure more young people are supported.
During the lockdown, the Met has sought to capitalise on the unprecedented shift in crime and demand to identify and target offenders responsible for the most serious crimes, particularly violent crime.
With people not being on the streets, there are less opportunities for criminality and greater scope for the Met to be proactive in targeting violent criminals.
This has resulted in stark falls in violent crime, a key driver of which is county lines.The Commissioner has described this as a ‘silver lining’ of this crisis.
Since 13 March, officers have recovered 444 knives, 322 offensive weapons, 106 firearms and made 2,478 other seizures, which have been mostly drugs.
Looking forward, the Met are also preparing to respond to any increases in drug dealing and violence as lockdown measures begin to lift.
This includes the deployment of over 600 officers into 12 Violence Suppression Units in each BCU, ensuring a swift and robust local response to violence and exploitation.
I will continue to do all I can to stop the vicious cycle of exploitation and ensure that those caught up in these exploitative networks get the specialist support they need.

Business Improvement Districts

Tony Devenish: There are 10 designated Business Improvement Districts in the West Central Area and over 50 across London as a whole. As active champions of their areas who will have a critical role to play in London’s economic recovery, how will you be working with Business Improvement Districts to plan and reopen the Capital’s economy.

The Mayor: My officers are in regular contact with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across London and their insight and concerns are helping inform both the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and helping plan for recovery.
In April my team surveyed the 64 London BIDs to better understand how COVID-19 is impacting on the day to day running of their organisations and on the services they deliver.
The results of the survey have provided me with the relevant data to demonstrate the need for additional funding for London BIDs. In a letter to the Chancellor I have requested that additional funding for these organisations is allocated, over and above the funding being proposed by Government, which does not reflect the scale and scope of some of London’s BIDs.
High Streets, Town Centres and Industrial BIDs will play a crucial role during the recovery phase and my Enterprise team will continue to engage with London BIDs on a regular basis to identify how we can better support them and their members.

Bus Routes during Lockdown

Tony Devenish: With many more of my constituents working from home during lockdown I have received an increasing number of complaints about bus noise and pollution on residential streets. Given that many buses currently have far fewer passengers due to lockdown, what work has TfL done to consider whether some routes should be temporarily altered?

The Mayor: It has been vitally important to maintain bus services at the highest possible level during this crisis. This has enabled essential journeys to continue, including for key workers. The low passenger loading has helped passengers to maintain social distancing where possible.
Transport for London (TfL) has carried out a comprehensive review of the entire bus network over the last few weeks and has temporarily reduced services to Saturday or Sunday frequencies where appropriate to reflect demand and driver availability while maintaining connectivity for essential journeys.
Following the Government’s announcement of an outline roadmap to gradually ease coronavirus restrictions TfL is planning to increase services back to normal levels again as soon as possible to help London re-open carefully, safely and sustainably.

Electric Vehicles

Tony Devenish: When will we see less polluting and quieter electric vehicles travelling along our residential streets?

The Mayor: Prior to the lockdown, there were 44,100 fewer polluting vehicles driving in central London thanks to my Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). I am committed to expanding this award-winning scheme in October 2021 so that we can deliver cleaner air across the capital.
I am also determined to keep London as a global leader in the transition to electric vehicles. My vehicle scrappage scheme provides grants of up to £9,500 to small businesses and a major expansion of charging points has been underway. This must coincide with bold measures by the Government that increase supply and incentivise consumers to switch, including a ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars from 2030.
But even with the ULEZ and electric cars, our residential streets and neighbourhoods should be prioritised for people, not vehicles. This is why I am determined to help all Londoners walk and cycle as part of a greener, cleaner, healthier future with my new Streetspace plan.

Roadworks

Tony Devenish: Will you please liaise with London Councils to enable short, clear guidance to be issued as soon as possible making clear what powers Londoners have to ensure utilities companies and those excavating public roads act "reasonably" at all times?

The Mayor: Guidance for undertaking essential streetworks during the Covid-19 lockdown has been issued by Government, with specific street works advice issued to providers in March 2020. Further government advice was issued on 11 May 2020 which includes steps to make sure workers understand what they need to do to maintain safety for themselves and for the general public while undertaking works during this period.
Since March 2020, the GLA has been leading weekly calls with utilities to ensure their response is coordinated, and any issues can be collectively addressed. Providers are complying with guidance, and some have created awareness campaigns to communicate with the public the essential nature of the work they are carrying out. If any members of the public have concerns about the approach the utilities are taking, they should raise them with the relevant company; if concerns persist then they can be escalated to their local authority.

GLA Contracts

Tony Devenish: Has any part of the GLA awarded contracts without competitive tender since March 2020 ? Please provide full details.

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

Police absence rate

Susan Hall: For each week since the beginning of 2020, please provide a breakdown how many police officers have been off sick or self-isolating?

The Mayor: The table below shows the daily average of officers who were self-isolating or sick for each week since 24 March.
Self-Isolating
Sick
Total Average
24/03-29/03
3590
2194
5784
30/03-05/04
3501
2080
5581
06/04-12/04
2622
1659
4281
13/04-19/04
2359
1389
3748
20/04-26/04
2423
1187
3610
27/04-03/05
2338
1026
3364
04/05-10/05
2193
878
3071
11/05-13/05
2142
828
2970
Many of those self-isolating were able to work from home. The table below shows this breakdown.
Not Working
Working From Home
Total Average
24/03-29/03
1838
1753
3590
30/03-05/04
1717
1783
3501
06/04-12/04
1561
1061
2622
13/04-19/04
1464
895
2359
20/04-26/04
1319
1105
2423
27/04-03/05
1302
1036
2338
04/05-10/05
1394
799
2193
11/05-13/05
1005
1136
2142

Covid-19 fines

Susan Hall: For each week since the new government powers, please provide a breakdown how many Covid-19 fines have been issued?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

Virtual Planning Committee Meetings (1)

Tony Devenish: Would you join with me in congratulating those London Boroughs including the City of London, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Waltham Forest and Westminster, who have supported business by enacting virtual online planning committee meetings quickly?

The Mayor: I congratulate all boroughs across the capital who have put in place measures to facilitate virtual planning committees.
I understand that at least twenty one boroughs have now held, or have programmed future virtual planning committees to keep decision-making going. To assist boroughs, GLA officers have hosted two training sessions, working with the London Office of Technology and Innovation and Microsoft to show them how to use MS Teams to host and live stream their committees securely. We will continue to support boroughs to ensure decision-making can continue during the pandemic, enabling the development sector to deliver my priority for good growth and support London’s economic recovery.

Affordable housing grant

Tony Devenish: The Government has provided £4.82 billion grant for encouraging the provision of more affordable housing in London. Please could you:

1. Provide a list of schemes by borough where finance from that fund has been offered to increase the quantity of affordable housing units?

2. Indicate which of those schemes have taken up such a grant and the numbers and types of affordable housing units achieved, as defined in paragraphs 238 to 254 of the Affordable Homes and Viability SPG?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the data required in order to answer your question fully is not yet available.

Virtual Planning Committee Meetings (2)

Tony Devenish: Will you press London Councils and the government to nudge those boroughs who have not yet taken such pro-active measures, which will have an impact on the housing crisis and add to the challenges our economy faces as lockdown is lifted over the coming weeks and months?

The Mayor: We are working closely with boroughs to support them including to support decision-making. We are not aware of any boroughs who have decided to discontinue exercising their decision-making functions. Therefore our approach will continue to be one of support for those boroughs who have thus far not publicly programmed committee meetings. We are aware of two boroughs who are also making greater use of delegated powers and we will monitor this local approach.

East Asian hate crime

Murad Qureshi: What are the figures for hate crime aimed at East Asians in London, before and during the current pandemic?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

Economic recovery

Murad Qureshi: What kind of economic recovery are you expecting in London – U or V shaped or an alternative one?

The Mayor: At this stage it is not possible to predict with confidence what path the recovery will take in London and indeed in the UK after the current, unprecedented shock. Overall most external forecasters are still predicting that the UK economy will see strong growth in 2021, but the risks are all on the downside.
Whatever form the recovery takes will ultimately depend on the effectiveness of public health strategies and of the support provided to individuals and businesses, so that long-lasting damage to our economy can be avoided.
GLA Economics is currently producing their next forecast, which will be consistent with the recent Bank of England’s COVID-19 economic scenario. These are due for publication in June and will show what may happen to London’s economy if the assumptions in that scenario come to pass.

Personal protective equipment stress tests

Onkar Sahota: What efforts to test assumptions about the supply of PPE was made in the drawing up of London’s pandemic resilience strategy?

The Mayor: The Pandemic Influenza Framework was reviewed in 2018 at which time the distribution arrangements for PPE were still under development whilst we awaited the revised national strategy. Further assessments of pandemic capability continued with the assumption that there are national stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) e.g. facemasks, gloves and aprons, for use by health and social care workers when caring for patients with pandemic influenza. And that these national stockpiles were robust. As we all now know this turned out not to be the case. Currently, arrangements are in place nationally for stock management and distribution of PPE should supplies run out. These will be activated, and stock delivered to London organisations, when required.

Exercise Cygnus care home impact

Onkar Sahota: Do you know what impact on care homes in London was evident from Exercise Cygnus?

The Mayor: One of the aims of Exercise Cygnus was to explore the social care policy implications during an influenza pandemic. The exercise highlighted that, nationally, further planning was required to understand how to get the capacity within the social care system. This action has been achieved in London during the COVID 19 response by utilising the Association of Directors Adult Social Care online reporting portal. This has provided accurate daily figures of capacity within the London system across public and private facilities. This led to the need to develop capability to expand the social care capacity to cope with excess demand during a pandemic. In London, this action was demonstrated in our response through this close monitoring and additional capacity was developed within the ADAS network working closely with Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships. This has enabled us to cope with additional hospital discharge of the Delayed Transfer of Care patients and the community demand for social care.

Domestic Abuse

Susan Hall: For each week since the beginning of 2020, please provide a breakdown of how many domestic abuse offences have been recorded, and how many arrests have there been?

The Mayor: Please see attached the requested data for the period specified. It should be noted that arrest data is not yet available for the most recent week. Also please ensure that the notes tab of the workbook is fully read and understood before analysing the data within.

ASB

Susan Hall: For each week since the beginning of 2020, please provide a breakdown how many ASB incidents have been recorded?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

London Fire Brigade

Susan Hall: Can the Mayor confirm how many LFB staff have taken sick leave due to COVID-19?

The Mayor: 40 London Fire Brigade employees have been on sickness absence due to COVID 19 since the pandemic began, for an aggregate total of 253 days. (Figures correct as of 12/5/20).

Funding

Susan Hall: Would the Mayor set out in detail how the £18.5 million coronavirus response funding awarded by government has been and will in future be spent?

The Mayor: Of the initial £9.3m paid to the GLA from the first tranche of MHCLG funding on 27 March, £9m was allocated to provide accommodation and support for rough sleepers. The remaining £300k has been allocated to London Resilience and for staffing costs.
No decision has been made yet on the allocation of the subsequently announced £9.25m funding which was received on 14 May from MHCLG. This is being considered currently, but it’s clear that the costs incurred across the Group are far in excess of this.

Pay it Forward (2)

Susan Hall: What criteria do businesses have to meet to sign up to your Pay it Forward scheme?

The Mayor: In order to list on Pay it Forward London, businesses must be:
These criteria are made clear to business when signing up. Any organisation that does not meet the criteria are moved to the main Crowdfunder site where they can continue raising if they meet Crowdfunder’s wider criteria.

Business Support

Susan Hall: Please give a breakdown of what the £1 million extra for business support you announced has gone towards?

The Mayor: My officers are deploying a three-stage approach that consists of: 1) Intelligence gathering and crisis management; 2) Business continuation & diversification; and 3) Business start-ups and recovery.
For the first stage we have allocated £35,000 which will go towards conducting surveys with businesses to gather additional detail on the impact of COVID 19. The first of the surveys was completed early in May, providing essential insight into the needs of over 1,000 businesses. This phase is also supported by the repurposing of existing programmes, which is delivering one-to-one support, online content and a programme of webinars to respond to the needs of London’s businesses during this crisis. We are also using staff from across the GLA group to strengthen our capacity to help businesses navigate the current support landscape.
For the second stage we have allocated £700,000 and this will deliver activity that will support businesses to develop competencies, identified as key to sustain or accelerate recovery and support to enable technology adoption. These programmes will start delivery in June/July 2020.
The remaining £265,000 will be spent later in the year to support emerging businesses and stimulate entrepreneurship as the economy recovers.

Pay it Forward (3)

Susan Hall: How much has been paid forward through your pay it forward scheme? Please list how many businesses have signed up and how many have benefitted from the scheme.

The Mayor: As of 20 May, over £170,000 has been raised through the Pay it Forward London platform by 147 businesses. A further 859 businesses have signed up, many of which will go on to launch fundraising campaigns.

Culture at Risk Emergency Fund

Susan Hall: How much of the Culture at Risk Emergency Fund have you awarded so far? Please list the recipients of the fund.

The Mayor: Culture and creative industries generate £52 billion a year, account for one in six jobs and will play an important role in the city’s recovery. The coronavirus is having a catastrophic impact on London’s culture and night time economy. Many venues have shut their doors and are facing permanent closure.
The Culture at Risk Business Support Fund, launched on 30 April, will provide £2.3m of emergency assistance to sustain creative and night time businesses impacted by COVID-19. It is targeted at those most at risk of falling into administration and who are unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England.
Funding is being distributed by three organisations: Music Venue Trust with LGBTQ+ Venues Forum to support up to 147 grassroots music venues and 56 LGBTQ+ venues; the Creative Land Trust to support thousands of tenants across up to 200 affordable creative workspaces; and the British Film Institute, helping up to 25 of London’s independent cinemas.
The first awards will be made towards the end of May. Each distributing organisation will run an open application process and applications will be assessed by independent panels. A list of recipients will be available in due course.

Move-on accommodation availability

Murad Qureshi: Do you have an estimate for the total number of 'move-on' accommodation units available currently in London for: a) Victims of domestic abuse, and separately b) former rough sleepers, broken down by borough if possible.

The Mayor: Through the Mayor’s £50m Move On programme, 42 units for former rough sleepers and 13 units for victims of domestic abuse have so far been completed. These have been added to the stock of 3,700 Clearing House properties, which provide social rented homes with specialist floating support for former rough sleepers. Clearing House manages pan-London nominations to all these properties, as vacancies arise. Nominations to Clearing House may come from hostels and GLA-commissioned rough sleeping services (to those homes earmarked for rough sleepers), and refuges (to those earmarked for victims of domestic abuse). During the Covid-19 emergency, GLA-commissioned services may nominate rough sleepers accommodated in hotels and other safe accommodation.
Note: the breakdown of units by borough will be available in due course, but cannot be obtained immediately as Clearing House resources are currently focused on the rough sleeping Covid-19 response.

TfL Ticket refunds (2)

Alison Moore: How many Oyster cards had i) 7 Day, ii) Monthly, iii) Annual Bus and Trams Passes a) loaded onto them, b) requested a refund, c) received a refund d) what was the cost to TfL of the refund?

The Mayor: Please see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/1591.

TfL Ticket refunds (1)

Alison Moore: TfL announced a reduction in services on 18th March 2020. How many Oyster cards had i) 7 Day, ii) Monthly, iii) 3 month, iv) 6 month or odd period and v) Annual Travelcards a) loaded onto them, b) requested a refund, c) received a refund d) what was the cost to TfL of the refund?

The Mayor: Please see the attached table showing the number of Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes on Oyster, the number refunded and the value of those refunds from the start of lockdown until 11 May.

TfL Income (4)

Navin Shah: You have said you will be looking to the Government to provide appropriate financial support to ensure that the core transport network continues to operate safely and reliably to the benefit of the UK's entire economy. What level of financial support are you requesting and what financial support has been provided?

The Mayor: Since mid-March, Transport for London (TfL) hasbeen fullysupportingthe Government’s measuresto reduce the spread of coronavirusbyasking Londoners only to make essential journeys. As a result, its passenger demand has declined steeply, with a 95 per cent reduction in journeys on the Tube, and an 85 per cent reduction in journeys on buses. This has caused an overall income loss of around 90 per cent (including non-passenger incomes).
It is costing TfL around £600m a month to run its network. TfL has already taken a significant amount of cost out of the organisation, including the furlough of 7,000 staff and safe stop of over 300 construction projects. These savings cannot, however, cover the loss from the steep decline in revenue, which for the full year is anticipated to amount to over £4 bn.
On 14 May 2020, a funding and financing package was agreed with the Government.The agreement is based on assumptions of a funding shortfall of £1.6bn from 1 April 2020 to 17 October 2020.It comprises a grant of £1.095bn and access to additional borrowing by TfL from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) of £505m.
Given the uncertainties in predicting demand, if the actual funding shortfall for such period is greater or less than £1.6bn, then the amount of the Grant and the PWLB loan will increase or decrease proportionately, up to a maximum of £1.9bn in aggregate. The funding requirement will be kept under review throughout the period to 17 October 2020. TfL will be discussing with the Government the further financial support necessary beyond the initial period of support.

Housing

Murad Qureshi: In light of the present COVID-19 pandemic and the scale of the infection rate in certain households, would you consider it beneficial to commission a housing needs assessment / planning review for future social housing building programmes?

The Mayor: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted in stark terms the already existing inequalities in London's housing, and could have significant implications for long-term housing needs, not least the requirement for new social rented homes. As we are still in the throes of the crisis it is too early to say with any confidence what those impacts will be, but my team will study the evidence carefully as it emerges and take it into account when preparing the next assessment of housing needs in London.

Pay it Forward (1)

Susan Hall: How are you managing any risks of your Pay it Forward Scheme and making these risks clear to Londoners?

The Mayor: Pay It Forward uses a crowdfunding platform to allow Londoners to pledge support for their local businesses now, with the expectation of delivery of rewards once government regulations and guidance allow. This platform, and the funding generously provided by Londoners, is designed to help small businesses survive this difficult period. There is a clear statement in place on all campaign pages that all pledges are donations, and we cannot guarantee that businesses will be able to provide the rewards promised, for example in the event that the business in question fails. Moreover, these risks are covered in Crowdfunder’s terms and conditions.

Covid-19 Domestic Abuse

Steve O'Connell: What more can be done to help victims of domestic violence during the lockdown?

The Mayor: Supporting victims and survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls, in particular domestic abuse, has been a key Mayoral priority for me. Before the COVID-19 crisis, I had already committed £15 million of new money, across a three-year period, to improve and increase the support available to victims and survivors of VAWG. This is on top of the £44 million I had already invested in tackling these issues.
However, evidence from other countries – and data here – have shown that, sadly, instances of domestic abuse and wider gendered violence have increased during lockdown measures.
At the start of April, I wrote to the Home Secretary calling for cross-Government action on this and asked for increased funding for support services. I’m glad Government has partially listened to my calls for action and announced additional funding.
Where Government lagged in action, I worked quickly with my Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to prioritise support for victims of Violence Against Women and Girls. I’ve provided £1.5 million of new money for an emergency response fund to rapidly increase accommodation and support available for those seeking to flee abuse.
Bed spaces have already been found to support 86 victims of domestic abuse at any one time. And now, this service will extend to all victims of domestic abuse including male, LGBTQ+ victims and women with no recourse to public funds.
As of Monday 18 May, 30 women and 12 children have been helped in just two weeks, with more referrals coming in each day. Meaning that people have been able to access support that would not otherwise have been available.
The nature of this crisis, means that we are in this for the long haul, and my message to those who feel unsafe in their home is that you do not have to suffer alone: you can leave your home, there are safe places to go and we will support you.
I would encourage anyone at risk to contact the National Domestic Abuse helpline open 24hrs on 0808 2000 247 or the police on 999 if at any point you feel you are in danger.

Croydon Housing Target

Steve O'Connell: Could you please confirm that the assumptions, in Croydon’s Local Plan Review, of a London Plan housing target of 29,490 units and small sites target of 15,110 units are now out of date, with both targets having been reduced by 8,700 units? Would you agree that councils should base their local plans on the most up to date housing targets, and will you advise Croydon Council to this effect?

The Mayor: The most up-to-date 10-year housing targets for London boroughs is set out in my Intend to Publish London Plan. For Croydon, the figure is 20,790 homes between 2019 and 2028. This includes a small sites target of 6,410. The small sites target represents a small amount of the potential for intensification in existing residential areas, particularly in outer London, therefore they should be treated as minimums.
The published final version of the London Plan will form part of the Development Plan for London and contain the most up-to-date housing policies. The GLA, in responding to the Issues and Options (Regulation 18) consultation, made this point in their response to Croydon Council.
The Assembly Member should note that the Secretary of State expressed a desire for housing figures across London (including Croydon) in excess of those I published in my Intend to Publish London Plan, and he also argued that the Mayor support ambitious boroughs, such as Croydon, to go beyond the London Plan targets to bring housing delivery closer to housing need.

A10 Speeding

Shaun Bailey: After much community campaigning, the announcement of installation of average speed cameras, by the end of the year, through the A10 Enfield Borough was warmly welcomed. The community is pleased to see average speed cameras installed from Southbury Road to the M25 roundabout. However, when will the work be completed with average cameras being installed from Southbury Road to the Great Cambridge Road roundabout?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has been working closely with Enfield Council and policing partners to solve the speeding and antisocial driving behaviour issues on the A10. TfL completed the installation of a temporary average speed camera system on the A10 between Bullsmoor Lane and Southbury Road in March 2020. The scope of these plans was informed by careful consideration of road safety data in order to tackle risk, and in turn ensure a demonstrable improvement to the safety of road users.
TfL plans to replace this system with permanent average speed cameras by the end of this year, following design and procurement activities. However, like all planned TfL expenditure, this is subject to TfL’s ongoing discussions with the Department for Transport following the significant impact coronavirus has had on its fares income.
There are no immediate plans to install a safety camera system between Southbury Road and Great Cambridge Road roundabout. This is because safety camera funding is prioritised for areas across London where the need is greatest. However, TfL and I will continue to work with our policing partners and Enfield Council to ensure the safety of all road users across the full A10 corridor.

COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Actions put in place for TfL Employees in Q1 2020

Keith Prince: Please provide me with copies of all documentation (executive orders, emails, handwritten notes) showing actions taken by TfL to protect its employees (eg. Revenue Inspectors) who worked on buses, trams and trains and related infrastructure from Covid-19.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) frontline staff continue to do a fantastic job. Their efforts to keep London moving are nothing short of remarkable. I am proud of how they’ve continued to deliver our service. Safety is TfL’s top priority and during the coronavirus pandemic it has taken a wide range of actions to protect its staff.
As you know TfL has placed 7,000 staff on furlough while dedicating significant resources in planning the restart of its services to ensure it is able to meet the challenges ahead. To ensure sensible use of currently limited resources, please provide some more specific details of the information you require so that TfL can provide it to your office.

Independent Investigation of London Transport Workers Dying from Covid-19

Keith Prince: According to recent press reports (https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/somali-sports-star-escaped-war-to...) 41 London Transport Workers—of which 31 are Bus Drivers—have died from Covid-19. Will you appoint an Independent Investigator to review the actions undertaken by TfL and its contractors to safeguard London’s Transport Workers from Covid-19?

The Mayor: Sadly, as of 20 May 2020, a total of 43 colleagues from Transport for London (TfL) and its partner organisations have passed away in service due to coronavirus-related illness. 29 of the 43 individuals who have died have been bus drivers. Every death in service is a tragedy and demonstrates the heroic work TfL’s frontline transport workers are doing every day to keep London and other critical workers moving.
The safety of employees and passengers is my number one priority, and TfL will continue to work alongside its partner organisations to help understand and mitigate any impact upon its workforce, utilising its knowledge and experience.
I can confirm that TfL has askedUniversity College London (UCL) Institute of Health Equityto provide independent adviceas part ofaforthcomingtwo-part study to better understand the pattern of coronavirus infections and deaths among London’s bus workers. The studies are being commissionedto ensure that TfL is taking all possible measures to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of those working to keep the bus network moving. This investigation will have a particular focus on bus workers.
TfL will continue to work alongside Public Health England, NHS trusts and the Government to help develop a longer-term approach to managing the impacts of coronavirus, helping to minimise the risk and keep its frontline transport workers safe, in particular those populations at higher risk of infection.

Pedestrian Crossing from Rise Park to Raphael Park

Keith Prince: Given there is a particular need to encourage more people to walk at the moment, will the Mayor instruct TfL to install a pedestrian crossing between Rise Park and Raphael Park?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) and central Government to draft guidance for London boroughs, that will help them deliver on-street improvements that help support social distancing. This will be similar to the recently issued DfT coronavirus Network Management Response guidance, that lists measures which can be implemented to enable people to walk, cycle and use public transport whilst also safely socially distancing, for example, using cones or barriers to widen footways outside shops. TfL is already in conversation with boroughs including Havering, to drive forward specific on-street social distancing proposals tailored to local area requirements.
A permanent pedestrian crossing between Rise Park and Raphael Park will require a feasibility study and traffic modelling to ensure it can be safely installed. TfL intends to take forward this feasibility study, although like all its planned expenditure, this is subject to its ongoing discussions with the Department for Transport on the wider financial support it needs following the significant impact coronavirus has had on its fares income.

Regreening public realm

Nicky Gavron: An unintended consequence of the harsh cuts to public services, which we have seen more evidence of during the current lockdown, is that some green spaces such as road verges, roundabouts and corners of parks have been left to go wild, increasing biodiversity and benefiting pollinators. While I’m sure we share the view that public service austerity has had an overall terrible impact on London, would you agree that this accidental regreening and rewilding has been positive, and is this a something you could encourage through City Hall, TfL and other stakeholders, to demonstrate the benefits that this biodiversity achieves?

The Mayor: Reduced mowing and management of areas of amenity grassland during the lockdown, and the subsequent flourishing of wildflowers, bees and butterflies, has certainly highlighted the opportunities for regreening and rewilding. I am keen to ensure this is a proactive approach in the future rather than an unintended consequence of the lockdown or continued austerity, especially as more Londoners have become more aware of the benefits of contact with nature during these difficult times.
You will be pleased to hear that TfL are continuing to explore where they can enhance the biodiversity of the verges they maintain - see https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/managing-road-verges-for-wildlife; and later this year I shall be issuing guidance about how to enhance the biodiversity of parks.

Social Distancing on the Tube

Florence Eshalomi MP: Two of the busiest tube lines (Northern Line & Victoria Line) serve the Lambeth & Southwark constituency. What social distancing measures are being considered for commuters after the lockdown?

The Mayor: Ensuring that Londoners can safely get about our city while maintaining the Government’s social distancing guidelines will be an unprecedented challenge as the Government gradually eases the lockdown restrictions.
It will simply not be possible to return to previous ridership levels while maintaining social distancing. This means that Londoners should not use public transport unless absolutely necessary. I am urging all Londoners to reimagine the way in which they travel, using walking and cycling options where possible. We’ve launched the StreetSpace programme to urgently expand cycling and pavement space for what could be a ten-fold increase in cycling and five-fold increase in walking.
For those who need to use public transport, Transport for London (TfL) is working closely with staff and trade unions to gradually return the number of buses and trains running to as close to 100 per cent as possible. Even with 100 per cent of services operating again, TfL will only be able to carry around 13-15 per cent of the normal number of passengers on the Tube and bus networks.
We are asking Londoners to travel outside of peak times, and we are working with the Government, employers and schools to stagger start times and shift patterns to minimise the numbers travelling at the busiest times. TfL have introduced signage, advertising and floor markings to encourage social distancing at stations and platforms, and deployed more than 100 British Transport Police and additional stewards at the busiest interchanges to encourage social distancing. To control the flow of passengers at the busiest stations, passengers may be asked to wait to enter a station and some stations will have one-way systems.
We have also asked all Londoners to wear non-medical face coverings at all times throughout their journey to minimise the risk as much as possible for those who do have to travel. In line with Government advice, where social distancing might be hard to maintain face coverings might help to prevent the spread of the disease.

Private outdoor space

Nicky Gavron: The coronavirus crisis and resulting lockdown has shown how important it is for people to have outdoor space at home, be it a garden, terrace or balcony. Your new London Plan sets a minimum standard of 5 square metres of outdoor space to be included in every new dwelling. Do you have an estimate of what proportion of new homes in London meet or exceed this minimum, and will you ensure that this policy is vigorously enforced, with clear guidance given to developers and boroughs, to ensure that every new home in London has a decent private outdoor space for residents to enjoy?

The Mayor: I recognise the importance of private outdoor amenity space to Londoners. This is why, for the first time, my new London Plan includes policy that will ensure that developments not only meet minimum outdoor space standards, but that also gives flexibility to the boroughs to exceed this standard through their Local Development Plans.
I have published a pre-consultation draft of guidance for this policy in Module C of my Good Quality Housing For All Londoners planning guidance, which you can download from this webpage: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/implementing-london-plan/planning-guidance/good-quality-homes-all-londoners-spg-pre-consultation-draft. I will continue to carefully monitor the development of Local Plans and strive for high-quality housing through the development management process.
Whilst I do not currently have an estimate of the proportion of new homes that currently meet or exceed the minimum private outdoor space requirements of the new London Plan, we hope to move towards the ability to collect this data in future through the London Development Database.

GLA purchasing new homes

Nicky Gavron: It has been reported that the GLA is working with private developers to purchase and “flip” unsold homes, to convert them into new genuinely affordable homes for Londoners. This could be a great initiative to ensure that the social housing sector doesn’t suffer as a result of a dip in the private market, and could help create a more equitable recovery from the crisis. Could you say how many units there is the potential to be purchased in this manner, and whether this would be funded through re-purposed affordable housing grant, or other sources. Would you seek additional “counter-cyclical” funding from Government so that the supply of new affordable homes can be maintained?

The Mayor: Given that any economic downturn is likely to see a fall in demand for private market housing, and rising demand for social housing, counter-cyclical funding could help maintain the supply of new affordable homes. However, is too early to outline precise details of potential interventions at this stage. My team is working with partners to understand the impact this crisis will have on housing delivery and housing need in London in the short, medium and long-term, and how the GLA can best support them. This includes looking at current funding programmes and contracts, parameters for forthcoming programmes or possibly new programmes and other Government lobbying. My housing delivery recovery taskforce will be examining this crucial issue shortly.

Covid-19 in prisons

Nicky Gavron: Have you made representations to Government to ask what steps are being taken to ensure that we do not have a repeat of the Covid-19 care home crisis in London’s prisons? Are prisoners, prison officers, support workers and medical staff within remand facilities being given necessary protection and opportunities for social distancing to keep them safe?

The Mayor: We understand that the measures to manage and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in prison include reducing time out of cells, isolating prisoners with symptoms, shielding vulnerable individuals and quarantining all new arrivals for 14 days. We have been informed that testing and protective equipment are being provided to prison staff and that increased capacity is being used for more single cell occupancy, all of which are currently reducing the rate of infections in custody.
My office has also been scrutinising government plans to manage the risk of infections by the early release of prisoners, to ensure that this does not create a significant risk for Londoners. My understanding though is that only a relatively small number have been released to date and are all low risk. My office will continue to closely monitor government plans to manage these risks.

Changes in transport use since coronavirus lockdown

Caroline Russell: In your response to the UK Government’s Air Quality Expert Group call for evidence on changes in air pollution during the coronavirus outbreak you provided a graph of the change in daily vehicle km travelled in London since 2 March 2020 (Figure 2). Could you provide me with a split of this data by vehicle type (cycle, car, van, lorry and bus)?

The Mayor: The automatic traffic counters Transport for London use to count the daily vehicle kilometres travelled on the Transport for London Road Network do not distinguish each count by type of vehicle. As a result, the data requested is not available.
The evidence I submitted to the UK Government’s Air Quality Expert group showed measures introduced to tackle COVID-19 approximately halved traffic Londonwide. This resulted in significant reductions in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, with NO2 almost halved at busy roads such as Marylebone Road and Oxford Street.
The report also showed the significant improvement in air quality already delivered in central London since the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). That is one of the reasons why I have now reintroduced the ULEZ and the congestion charge and will expand the ULEZ in 2021. Emerging evidence of the association between air pollution and the most severe effects of COVID-19 make these schemes even more essential to protect Londoners’ health.

Speeding Vehicles

Caroline Pidgeon: The issue of speeding has escalated during lockdown, with some truly shocking speeds being reported on London’s roads and several fatalities. How are you working with the police to tackle the serious issue of speeding both during lockdown and in the longer-term? Furthermore, will you consider introducing a Community Speedwatch Online initiative as the former Mayor had said he would consider in answer to question 2015/2003?

The Mayor: I am outraged that people are risking both their own and other people’s lives by speeding on roads which are quieter as a result of lockdown. To address speeding in London and support my Vision Zero aim, Roads Policing officers are actively patrolling priority roads across London and robustly enforcing speeding offences. This approach is supported by the newly launched Roads Crime Team, whose focus is on proactively removing high harm offenders from the roads. In addition, TfL’s speed enforcement action plan includes key elements for tackling speeding.
There are no plans to introduce Community Speedwatch Online because the current Community Roadwatch model is working well. Both the MPS and I are fully committed to community schemes such as this and Junior Roadwatch which are important parts of the wider speed enforcement plan as detailed above.

Support for SMEs

Caroline Pidgeon: Data from Companies House for March 2020 is shocking, with 68% more businesses closing in March this year compared to the same month in 2019. How are you supporting small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in London during the COVID-19 crisis, in addition to your Pay it Forward initiative, and how are you planning to provide further support to London’s SMEs in the months and years following this crisis?

The Mayor: Additional resources have been provided to the London Growth Hub (LGH) to expand its advisory capacity. We now have 7 LGH advisors available for one to one virtual meetings and calls with SMEs and 9 call handlers that provide first line support. Over 600 businesses have used this service since the beginning of the crisis.
The LGH started adapting its core business support programme in March, as the early economic impacts on COVID-19 were being felt and prior to an announcement of a pandemic. The project now provides online, tailored, 1-2-1 business support and guidance on topics like how to access the government’s business support packages, how business can adapt in the current circumstances and managing cashflow. LGH is also running a series of weekly webinars on topics like property advice, how to comply with your insurance and how to access funding. It has also established a Covid-19 business support hub with information and tools to help businesses access the support they need from Government and the private sector.
Pay it Forward London has already helped around 150 businesses to raise over £180,000 thanks to the support of 3,000 Londoners.
Last month I committed £2.3m in grant funding to support London’s music venues, independent cinemas, LGBTQ+ venues and creative workspaces, all of whom have been hit particularly hard during the crisis. I have also approved an additional £1m of funding for business support activities that will help SMEs during the coming year.

Domestic Violence

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide figures for the number of domestic abuse cases reported to the Met since the lockdown began on 23 March 2020, broken down by week and with comparative figures from the same period last year. Please confirm what plans are in place to deal with the predicted further rise in cases of domestic abuse as lockdown is lifted and restrictions are eased?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

London Plan Directions (1)

Andrew Boff: How do you plan to implement the housing and planning issues raised in the Secretary of State’s response to the draft London Plan?

The Mayor: Further to my letter to the Secretary of State on the 24th April, discussions are now underway between my officers and MHCLG officials to agree the final text of those policies directed by the Secretary of State, ensuring that they remain workable in practice. We expect MHCLG officials to come back to us shortly with a view to moving this process forward. The Secretary of State has clear powers of direction under Section 337 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and he has chosen to use those powers. I will work to ensure that the new London Plan is formally published as quickly as possible, to enable delivery of my priority for good growth and support London’s economic recovery.

London Plan Directions (2)

Andrew Boff: Could you please provide a copy of the appendix to your response letter of 24th April to the Secretary of State, detailing your suggested amendments to his directions and changes to the draft London Plan?

The Mayor: As noted in response to your previous question (please see Mayor’s Question 2020/1500), discussions are now underway between MHCLG officials and my officers to agree the final wording of my London Plan. This is an iterative process and the final text will be subject to agreement by both parties. Once we are at that stage, I will publish the text as part of my formal decision-making process.

Silvertown Tunnel

Keith Prince: When is the current estimated date of completion of the Silvertown Tunnel?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) currently expects the Silvertown Tunnel to be completed in 2025. Clearly the coronavirus crisis may affect the completion date, as could be the case for many TfL projects.
As announced on 24 March, a Safe Stop has been implemented on TfL construction projects, including the Silvertown Tunnel. While the Safe Stop is in place, work continues on the design and planning for the scheme where it is possible for this work to be carried out safely and in line with relevant guidance. For example, design teams are able to work from home. Main construction works were not anticipated to commence until later this year, and TfL will continue to review construction plans in response to the coronavirus crisis.
TfL is continuing to work through any implications on the programme with its delivery partner, Riverlinx.

Crossrail (1)

Keith Prince: When will the central section of Crossrail open?

The Mayor: Crossrail’s focus has been on meeting the immediate challenge posed by coronavirus and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff and the wider public.
Everyone at Crossrail is working hard to minimise the impact of coronavirus on the previously stated opening dates. Coronavirus is expected to have an effect on the programme, and work is currently underway to assess this. Crossrail will provide a further update to me and Londoners as soon as the full impact is known.

Crossrail (2)

Keith Prince: When do you expect Crossrail to have opened in full?

The Mayor: It is anticipated that the full service will begin operation a year after the opening of the central section.

Crossrail (3)

Keith Prince: When are the various opening dates for all the Crossrail stations which have yet to be completed?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1504.

Collier Row Lane Bus Shelter

Keith Prince: My office has recently been in contact with TfL over the need to replace a bus shelter in Collier Row Lane. Will you confirm that this will be done as soon as possible once the unwinding of lockdown makes it feasible?

The Mayor: As the shelter was damaged after a collision with a bus, Transport for London (TfL) has been working with the London Borough of Havering (the Highway Authority here) and Stagecoach (the operator of the vehicle involved in the collision) to find suitable replacement options, including slightly relocating the shelter to avoid further collisions. This work has been delayed owing to the impacts of coronavirus and lockdown restrictions. However, once the situation changes, TfL hopes that a solution will quickly be found.

Metropolitan Police and Social Media

Peter Whittle: On Saturday 28 April, the Metropolitan Police sent out a tweet, asking ‘Are you a victim or witness of hate crime related to the COVID-19 pandemic? Given the major challenges facing Londoners and the police at that time, do you think this was wise?

The Mayor: I know, as does the Met Police, that there are some who will use the COVID-19 pandemic to try and divide us. Chinese and South East Asian communities have been targeted as ‘scapegoats’ for the pandemic, and a number of far-right extremists have attempted to propagate online conspiracy theories targeting Muslim and Jewish communities. Some of those targeted have little experience of dealing with such abuse. I am sure you will join me in condemning these crimes.
Crime is crime, whatever the current circumstances and I commend the police for taking a pro-active approach to encouraging those who experience or witness hate crime to report it. Doing so offers the best opportunity to catch the perpetrators and ensure victims receive support that best meets their needs.

Post COVID-19 street patrolling

Peter Whittle: In recent weeks, I have observed police on foot, patrolling the streets of South London and their interactions with the public. Are there any plans being considered to maintain this level of beat patrolling in post-Coronavirus London?

The Mayor: When I became Mayor, I pledged to restore real neighbourhood policing to the streets of London. Austerity, and changes by the previous Mayor, meant that the treasured model of one Sergeant, two PCs, and three PCSOs per ward had been scrapped, with just one police officer and one PCSO in each ward across the city.
I doubled the number of officers, meaning that every ward now has two PCs and one PCSO, to focus on issues that matter to local people through good problem solving and effective community engagement.
And as the Government has finally agreed to partially reverse some of the cuts to policing, we are seeing the number of officer’s increase, backed by additional funding I have provided to put 1,000 extra officers into the Met that would otherwise be affordable.
Despite COVID-19 the Met is continuing to recruit, meaning that by October this year, officer numbers in London will have grown to 32,500. These additional officers will be working across the Met, including 620 officers in the new Violence Suppression Units being set up in every Basic Command Unit across the city.
We know that engagement is so important to ensuring the trust and confidence of communities, and an important part of this is people seeing and engaging with officers out on the streets.
The Met has always done this, and I am glad that you have been able to notice this more visibly recently.
By equipping officers with mobile technology, such as phones, tablets and laptops, we are also reducing the amount of time they have to spend in the office, further increasing their presence on our streets.
Crime is down as a result of the lockdown, and so some officers will have more time to dedicate to engagement, as well as working to police the lockdown rules. Having officers out on the beat will remain an important part of policing in London both during the pandemic and beyond.

Police Officer Residence

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor, how many police officers are resident within the Metropolitan Police Area? Please break down your response into sworn and warranted full-time officers, Specials and Police Community Support Officers.

The Mayor: The table below shows the number of police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Special Constables who live in a London borough as of April 2020.
Residence
Police Officer
PCSO
Special Constable
Grand Total
London Borough
14,486
953
1,416
16,855
Total number of officers
32,100
1,258
1,869
35,227

Bringing unoccupied homes into use during the coronavirus crisis

Siân Berry: Your Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development wrote to me on 20 April 2020, in response to a letter from me to both of you asking about ways to bring unoccupied homes into use. He said: “In relation to new homes that have been completed but not yet let or sold, I am working with investment partners and other developers to explore what scope exists for using these homes to help meet some of that pressing housing need.” Could you provide me with the latest update on this work?

The Mayor: My team is working with partners to understand the impact this crisis will have on housing delivery and housing need in London in the short, medium and long-term, and how the GLA can best support them. This includes looking at current funding programmes and contracts, parameters for forthcoming programmes or possibly new programmes and other Government lobbying.

New police powers during the coronavirus crisis

Siân Berry: Could you provide data showing how often new police powers given to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) during lockdown have been exercised in London, including the number of fines and arrests made by the MPS under the powers, along with any age or demographic breakdown that is available?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be advised that there may be some delay as the information also requires input from functional bodies.

Emergency decision-making during the coronavirus crisis

Siân Berry: Will you be providing a record or log of all the additional emergency decisions made as part of the lockdown process, for example the decision to temporarily suspend the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), as you do already do with ordinary Mayoral and Director’s decisions? And will the information about these decisions contain a) reasons for the decision, including objectives and expected outcomes, b) a time limit or review date for the measures, c) equality impact information (even if brief), d) legal comments, and e) financial impact information?

The Mayor: GLA decisions taken in direct response to Covid-19, or in response to its impacts or the impacts of the measures put in place to tackle its spread, have been subject to the usual GLA governance and transparency requirements, including Mayoral and Director Decision forms.
In the case of the decision to suspend the ULEZ, Congestion Charge and Low Emissions Zone, this was an urgent TfL decision taken by the Commissioner in accordance with Transport for London’s decision-making processes.

Speeding during lockdown

Andrew Dismore: It is clear that some drivers are taking advantage of less busy roads not just to break the speed limit but to exceed it by a huge margin. How are you and the police dealing with this threat to life?

The Mayor: Taking advantage of quieter roads to speed during lockdown is illegal and dangerous. The Police, TfL and I are all committed to tacking speeding and increasing the deterrent effect of enforcement. The TfL’s speed enforcement action plan lays out key elements of our approach. This includes significantly increasing on-street and safety camera enforcement to provide a more effective deterrent; examining broadening PCSO powers to allow them to enforce certain road traffic offences; and introducing a dedicated speed enforcement team as well as increasing the number of Community Roadwatch and Junior Roadwatch sessions across London.
During lockdown, we remain committed to keeping London’s roads safe. To address the increase in speeding on quieter roads, traffic officers will continue to police the roads 24 hours every day and will use enforcement against those breaking the law. In addition to this, the Road Crimes Team, launched in April, are proactively focused on removing high harm offenders from the road network, including those who flout speed limits.

London Underground post-Covid-19

Andrew Dismore: Do you agree with press reports and the London Strategic Co-ordination Group who said that London Underground services would see capacity reduced to just 15 per cent of its normal level and that the Tube could be 'overwhelmed' after the end of lockdown if passengers have to obey current rules re social distancing; and how will you mitigate this risk?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1581.

Broadband in London

Andrew Dismore: The extent to which many people have adapted to working from home has thrown into sharp focus the inadequacies of slow broadband speeds in much of the capital and their impact on the ability of many homeworkers to carry out their work; what are you doing to improve this?

The Mayor: During this period, our broadband network has proven itself a crucial utility and has, as your question suggests, exposed those parts of the city where legacy infrastructure is unacceptable. I will continue to use City Hall to press the Government and connectivity providers to connect underserved areas.
Since lockdown began, the GLA’s Connected London team have been monitoring and discussing live issues with providers to ensure Londoners have the connectivity they need to work from home. The team is working directly with operators to ensure they can address faults across London and using its relationships across London’s boroughs to help facilitate essential works and ensure any issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
I have written to leading tech companies asking for donations of devices for voluntary organisations in London struggling to maintain their vital services remotely. My team is also working with providers to request the tech needed to connect these devices.
The GLA’s Education and Youth team has called on the government to extend their digital access scheme, including providing devices and broadband to disadvantaged year 10 students, to encompass all secondary school years.
I have previously announced £11m funding for full fibre projects across London. This includes £10m funding to boost full fibre coverage by connecting public sector sites in areas that suffer from poor connectivity, making these areas more commercially viable. This funding complements £8.5m my team secured from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) fund and £15.4m of London Council’s funding retained from business rates with boroughs bid into. My team is working with London boroughs to ensure the combined £34.9m funding will be used to connect public sector sites that have been identified in underserved areas, in order to stimulate the market and incentivise further private sector investment. £1m of funding will be used to set up dedicated digital connectivity roles in each of the sub regions to support delivery across London.

Complaints against the Met

Unmesh Desai: How many complaints have been made by members of the public against the Met in each of the last 12 months? Please also state how many complaints in total have been made since the 25th March 2020.

The Mayor: Please see the table below for the number of complaint cases recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) each month from May 2019 to April 2020.
May 19
503
Jun 19
524
Jul 19
615
Aug 19
512
Sep 19
579
Oct 19
532
Nov 19
692
Dec 19
358
Jan 20
519
Feb 20
423
Mar 20
716
Apr 20
531
Total
6504
Between the 25 March 2020 and 13 May 2020 there were 1,067 complaints recorded.
It is vital that officers conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional manner and my Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) continue to oversee how complaints are handled by the MPS.

Assaults on officers

Unmesh Desai: How many assaults on Met officers were recorded in each of the last 12 months? How many attacks on officers have related to enforcement of the Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations since they came into effect?

The Mayor: The table below shows the number of offences of assault against Police Constables (PCs) in each of the last 12 months.
2019
2020
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
446
428
482
506
416
430
531
465
430
388
433
511
From February 2020 a new category flag was introduced to identify those assaults related to Covid-19 offences. Assaults on officers flagged as related to Covid-19 offences over the last 3 months are shown in the table below. Note these figures are also included within the first table.
2020
Feb
Mar
Apr
1
26
93
Any assault on officers carrying out their duties is completely unacceptable and my Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) will continue to monitor officer assaults and liaise closely with the Federation to support their members.

Mental Health flagged incidents

Unmesh Desai: How many mental health flagged incidents did the Met respond to in each of the last 12 months? Please also include how many mental health flagged incidents there have been since the Coronavirus 2020 Act came into effect.

The Mayor: Please see the attached spreadsheet provided by the MPS.